Ironer



Ap 14, 1959' z. SOBLE 2,881,542

IRONER 'Filod Jan. 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTOR.

HARRY Z. SOBLE BY fiwud LXW ATTORNEY April 14, 1959 H. 2.50 2,881,542

IRONER Filed Jan. 20, 1958 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARRY Z. SOBLE BY 13M 14 m. ATTORNEY United States Patent .0

IRONER Barry Z. Sable, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Super Laundry Machinery 'Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Michigan Application January 20, 1958, Serial No. 710,138 2 Claims. 01. 38-59) This invention relates to an improved ironer for industrial or institutional use and more particularly to a novel method of engaging and disengaging the rollers from the chests associated therewith. During operation of the ironer, flatwork is pressed between a roller and a chest. It is understood that the term flatwork is being used in a generic sense to include fabric, cloth, linen, woolen, etc. While a single pair of roller and chest may be employed, generally two or more pairs of rollers and chests are used and more particularly two, four, six, eight or ten pairs of rollers and chests. Either the chest or roller and, in some cases, both the chest and roller are heated, generally to a temperature above about 300 F. Accordingly, when the ironer is not in use, it is important that the roller be disengaged from the chest in order to prevent damage, particularly to the padding on the rollers. On the other hand, when the ironer is in use, it is necessary that the roller engages the chest.

'At present a complicated gear and cam arrangement is employed to lower and raise the roller to thereby eng'ageor disengage it from the chest. It now has been found that this complicated arrangement can be eliminated and that improved operation of the ironer is obtained by a novel method for engaging and disengaging the roller from the chest.

In accordance with the present invention, the roller is raised by a spring arrangement and is automatically disengaged from the chest when the ironer is not in use. The roller is raised a sufiicient height to afford clearance between the roller and the chest to avoid damage ashcreinbefore set forth and also to permit attaching the padding'to the roller prior to use and removing the padding when'desired. The automatic raising of the rollor isiof importance to prevent burning of the padding 'Orotlier damageoccurring upon completion of the ironing orin case of an emergency shutdown. For example, in 'a'preferred embodiment, the chest is heated to the desired temperature and, when the ironing is completed, the roller is stopped. The padding at the underside of the roller then is in close proximity to the hot chest and will be damaged unless raised. In accordance with the present invention, the roller is associated with a spring arrangementfwhichautomatically raises the roller to a suflicient'height above the chest to prevent such damage. ;;"Froin the above description, it will be noted that the roller 'is'in'araised positionwhen the ironer is not in use. However, during use it is necessary that the roller be lowered so that it will exert pressure against the chest in order to achieve ironing of the flatwork. This is accomplished in the present invention by a novel arrangement which utilizes compressed air to apply a downward pressure against the roller.

The invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure I is an overall view of the ironer and is shown in perspective. Figure II is a view taken from the left hand side of the "ice ,Y

ironer and has been cut away to illustrate the improved arrangement for lowering and raising the rollers. In the interest of simplicity like parts in the different drawings will be identified by like numerals.

Referring to Figure I of the drawing, numerals 1 and 2 identify the end frames. Generally both end frames are identical and are cast iron box type, although they may be made of any suitable material and may be of the same or different construction. In the case here illusstrated, the end frames are bolted together by heavy tie rod 3 secured by nut 4. It is understood that any other suitable means of attaching the end frames may be employed.

Figure I illustrates a two roll ironer, the rolls being identified by numerals 5 and 6. As hereinbefore set forth, it is understood that any suitable number of rollers may be employed. Roller 5 is attached through shaft 7 and bearing 8 to housing 9 positioned in end frame '1, and roller 6 similarly is attached through shaft 10 and bearing 11 to housing 12. The rollers are attached to end frame 2 in the same manner as described for end frame 1 and as illustrated in part at 13.

In the case here illustrated, feed bracket 14 is firmly attached to end frame 1 by means of bolts 15 and 16. Feed bracket 17 is attached to end frame 2 in a similar manner as partly illustrated by bolt 18. It is understood that the feed brackets may be cast as an integral part of the end frames or attached theretoin any other suitable manner.

Feed roller 19 is attached through bushing 20 and shaft 21 to bearing housing 22 at one end and to hearing housing 23 at the other end. Roller 19 is used to feed the flatwork into the ironer. Similarly, return roller 24 is attached through shaft 25 to feed brackets 14 and 17 by-means of bearing arrangements not illustrated. For the convenience of the operator, the ironed flatwork is returned, by means of conveyor ribbons, not illustrated, to the front of the ironer. The flatwork passes over return roller 24 and is collected on receiving table 26 having back 27 and supporting legs 28 and 29. Brackets 30 and 31 are used to support a bar or rod, which may be made of wood or metal and over which the flatwork is hung for ease in handling.

The improved arrangements for raising and lowering the rollers are more clearly illustrated in Figure II of the drawings, and the invention will be further explained with reference thereto. Although Figure II illustrates only end frame 1, it is understood that end frame 2 will be of similar construction. In the case here illustrated, the end frames are hollow and are cast with openings as shown. As hereinbefore set forth, the rollers are in a raised position when the ironer is not in use. This is accomplished by means of springs 32 and 33 upon which bearing assemblies 9 and 12 ride in housings 34 and 35.

The springs rest in openings, not illustrated, in the end frame and are of a design sufiicient to raise the rollers to the desired height which, in most cases, will be from 2" to 5" above chest 36. Springs 37 and 39 are used to adjust the height of the rollers and this is accomplished by suitably turning screws 38 and 40. Springs 37 and 39 also serve the important function of providing flexibility in the vertical movement of the rollers to adjust for the.

varying thickness of the different fiatwork being ironed.

When the ironer is in use, it is necessary to lower the rollers to engage the chest. This is accomplished by the novel arrangement of the present invention in which pressure beam 41 is positioned above and in con tact with bearing assemblies 9 and 12. Guide posts 42 and 43 are provided to prevent horizontal movement of the pressure beam. In the case here illustrated, pressure beam 41 is attached at one end by means of pin 44 to coupling 45, rod 46, coupling 47 and rod 48 to air cylinder 49 which, in turn, is attached to end frame 1 by means of support 50, plate 51 and bolts 52 and 53. Similarly, pressure beam 41 is attached at the other end by means of pin 54 to coupling 55, rod 56, coupling 57 and rod 58 to air cylinder 59 which, in turn, is attached to end frame 1 by means of support 60, plate 61 and bolts 62 and 63. The air cylinders are of conventional design and each contains a piston which is forced downward in response to the introduction of compressed air. As the piston moves downward, it exerts a corresponding downward movement to pressure beam 41 which, in turn, lowers the rollers and the rollers thereby engage the chest.

In the case here illustrated, connecting rod 46 is shown at an angle. This is because the particular end frame employed was such that the tilted arrangement was required. However, it is understood that a perpendicular rod arrangement generally is preferred and also that any other suitable method of connecting the air cylinders to the pressure beam may be employed. A minimum of four air cylinders and connecting rods are required. Generally this will be satisfactory for ironers having up to and including four follers. Ironers having a higher number of rollers usually require additional cylinder and rod arrangements to achieve the desired lowering of the rollers.

In operation, compressed air from any suitable source is introduced through line 64 and is directed through T 65, valve 66 having hand operated lever 67, line 68, T 69, line 70, T 71 and line 72 to cylinder 49 and line 73 to cylinder 59. The compressed air will be supplied at the required pressure, which generally will be from 50 to 100 pounds per square inch, although higher or lower pressures may be employed when satisfactory. In the case here illustrated, valve 66 is a hand operated three-way valve with exhaust to the atmosphere and may be used for choking when necessary. When the rollers are to be raised, air is exhaused from cylinder 49 by way cf line 74 and from cylinder 59 by way of line 75, the pair passing through T 76 and line 77 to .valve 78 and exhausted to the atmosphere. In the case here illustrated, valve 78 is a three-way spring operated valve with exhaust to the atmosphere. Line 79, reducing valve 80 and line 81 serves to maintain the desired differential pressure on the spring arrangement in valve 78, while line 82 serves to maintain the valve in closed position during operation of the ironer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, compressed air is used to lower the rollers. However, it is understood that, in another embodiment of the invention, compressed air may be used to raise the rollers, in which case the compressed air will be supplied to the lower portion of the air cylinders and will serve to raise the. pistons therein. Any suitable means for lowering the rollers may be employed and springs 32 and 33 will be omitted or positioned above bearing assemblies 9 and 12 to exert an additional downward force, over and above that of gravity, to insure proper engaging of the rollers and chest.

Any suitable means may be employed for operating the. ironer and generally will comprise a motor and series of gears and belts. This arrangement has been omitted from the drawings because it constitutes no part of the present invention and generally will be of conventional 4 design. However, Figure II illustrates main drive shaft 83 and bearing assembly 84.

Suitable padding, not illustrated, will be attached to the rollers prior to use. Any suitable padding may be used and may comprise cotton, linen, duck, canvas, etc. The padding is applied to the rollers in any suitable manner such as by means of clips, springs, etc.

As a specific example of an ironer constructed in accordance with the present invention, rollers 5 and 6 are each 12" in diameter and made of standard black seamless pipe. The rollers are padded with 36" cotton padding. Chest 36 is provided with a steam inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end for draining condensate. The chest is heated with steam at a temperature of about 340 F., the steam being supplied at a pressure of about 120 pounds. Springs 32 and 33 are each 1%" diameter and 7 long and serve to raise and maintain the rollers 3" above the chest. During operation of the ironer, compressed air at a pressure of pounds per square inch is supplied to the air cylinders and serves to lower pressure beam 41 and accordingly rollers 5 and 6. i

From the above description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel. and improved arrangement for raising and lowering the rollers and results in improved operation of the ironer.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ironer comprising, in combination, a chest, a roller positioned above said chest, a shaft attached to said roller, a bearing assembly receiving said shaft, is spring positioned beneath said bearing assembly and adapted to maintain the same in a raised position, a pressure beam positioned above said bearing assembly and adapted to apply a downward movement to said bearing assembly, an air cylinder connected to said pressure beam and adapted to apply a downward movement to said pressure beam upon the introduction of compressed air into said cylinder.

2. An ironer comprising, in combination, a pair of end frames, a chest positioned between said end framespa roller positioned above said chest, a shaft attached to said roller, a bearing assembly in one of said end frames receiving one end of said shaft, a bearing assembly in the other of said end frames receiving. the other end of said shaft, a spring in each of said end frames positioned beneath and in contact with the corresponding bearing assembly and adapted to maintain the same and accordingly said roller in a raised position, a pressure beam in each of said end frames positioned above and in contact with the corresponding bearing assembly, a pair of air cylinders positioned in each of said end frames and each pair connected to the corresponding pressure beam, said cylinders being adapted to apply a. downward movement to said pressure beams and. accordingly to said rollers in response to the introduction of pressed air to said cylinders.

References Cited. in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,936,027 Pointon Nov. 21, 1933 2,722,761 Long Nov. 8, 1955 2,729,003 Cohn et a1. Jan. 3, 1956 2,739,397 Rose Mar. 27, 19 56 

